Renault apparently plans to expand its Spanish plant in Palencia into a production site for three electric SUVs from 2028. In addition to the new Renault Rafale and the Scenic, the next generation of the electric Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is expected to roll off the production line there. Read more…

Researchers at Penn State University claim to have developed a process that converts PET plastic from beverage bottles into high-quality synthetic graphite. According to the researchers, the material could serve as anode material for lithium-ion batteries in the future, simultaneously recycling plastic waste and meeting the demand for battery graphite. Read more…

JSW Green Mobility has acquired a strategic stake in Lithium Urban Technologies. The investment will support the growth of Lithium Urban’s EV fleet, with the companies targeting a threefold expansion of the business over the next two years. Read more…

Leapmotor has opened order books in Europe for the B03X electric compact car. Presented to European markets in January, the electric model starts at €24,900 or from €239 per month on lease. This includes an ‘Urban Crossover’ with up to 382km range. Read more…

First unveiled for mainland European markets in 2023, Fiat’s fully electric quadricycle is now available to order in the UK for the first time. Pricing starts at £8,995 OTR. Read more…

A research team led by the University of Cambridge has investigated the impact of physical pressure on the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries – and found that “keeping batteries under constant pressure could double their lifespan”. Read more…

A new pilot scheme at the Port of Vancouver has seen a number of battery-electric container trucks enter port freight operations. The initiative is designed to test how zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles perform in real-world drayage conditions. Read more…

The UK government has announced a consultation on a proposed £190m scheme which aims to upgrade electrical grid capacity at motorway service areas. It would target a small number of motorway service areas where high connection costs have made private investment in grid upgrades commercially unviable. Read more…

From October 1, the Belgian capital will introduce a rotation fee for EVs that remain connected to public charging stations for too long. This aims to improve the availability of charging infrastructure by penalising offenders for blocking stations. Read more…

The BRAVE10k research project aims to accelerate the introduction of autonomous vehicles for public transport in Germany. Led by telematics specialist INIT, the consortium aims to prepare for the integration of more than 10,000 autonomous vehicles in public transportation by 2030. Read more…

Earlier this month, Ireland’s new ICE2EV scrappage pilot was fully subscribed within an hour of launch, with 2000 applicants securing up to €5000 in grants towards a new BEV. Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien said the government will now assess the ‘results’ of the pilot before moving forward. Read more…

Spain’s government has confirmed more than €100 million will be allocated to eMobility projects – with a focus on the construction and modernisation of charging stations along key transport corridors. Nearly 2,700 fast-charging points are set to be established under the ‘Moves Corredores de Recarga’ initiative Read more…

Hyundai has started assembling the Ioniq 5 in Thailand to reduce its price and make it more competitive. The company has launched the locally built model at a price of 1.699 million baht (~€44,713 euros). Read more…

Mercedes-Benz looks set to move production of the compact G-Class away from Germany. Instead, the electric model is expected to roll off the production line at the Kecskemét plant in Hungary in 2027. The Rastatt site, where Mercedes also produces compact models, will reportedly not be awarded the contract. Read more…

Hyundai is expanding its Charge myHyundai charging service’s Preferred Partner Network to nine additional European markets. At the same time, the company is introducing a new Ionity Pro package, which allows new customers to use it free of charge for the first month. Read more…

Renault is rolling out Google Gemini to vehicles equipped with the OpenR Link infotainment system. The AI assistant replaces Google Assistant via a free over-the-air update and is designed to enable more natural voice interactions. According to Renault, the update also expands the range of vehicle functions that can be controlled by voice. Read more…

The first SUV from Xpeng’s sub-brand Mona, the L03, is now available for pre-order in China. Xpeng will celebrate the model’s launch on July 16 – not in China, but in Munich. The message: the Mona L03 is an EV for global markets. Read more…

Fleet electrification firm WattEV has just opened its seventh heavy-duty truck charging depot, this time in Fresno, California. It’s the first of four sites planned in Northern California. Read more…

From January 1, 2027, China will abolish the annual vehicle tax exemption for plug-in hybrids, range-extender vehicles, and several classes of electrified commercial vehicles. BEV passenger cars, however, will remain tax-exempt as they are not subject to China’s displacement-based vehicle tax under Chinese law. Read more…

Infineon has opened its new Smart Power Fab in Dresden. With an investment volume of five billion euros, the plant is the largest single investment in the company’s history. In the future, it will produce power semiconductors and analog/mixed-signal chips for applications including electromobility, energy supply, and AI infrastructure. Read more…